How to Buffer All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

YOUR DAILY DIET TIP

There’s one piece of advice nutritionists agree on: Stay away from the buffet!

All-you-can-eat smorgasbords of your favorite fatty foods encourage you to fill your plate time and time again, stuffing yourself until you can’t squeeze in another bite.

But you can’t avoid buffets for the rest of your life. Whether you’re with a large group who wants to hit the Chinese buffet around the corner, or you just can’t resist the call of the Indian buffet with the amazing samosas, here are some tips to indulge yourself without bingeing:

Start with a large salad. Load a large bowl with dark leafy greens and heap on healthy extras like tomatoes, carrots and mushrooms.

For your entrée, pick one non-fried, non-battered dish. Chinese beef and broccoli is fairly healthy, as is Indian chicken curry.

Pick only one type of carbohydrate. Instead of eating a muffin, baked roll and pasta salad, choose your favorite and ignore the rest.

You deserve a little treat every now and then, so don’t be afraid to get another single-serving of one dish you really enjoy. Go ahead and have the fried sweet and sour pork, another muffin or a piece of cake. Just remember the key phrase here is “single-serving.”

Just because you can eat three platefuls worth of naan or chow mein doesn’t mean you should. If you follow the buffet survival plan above, you’ll feel satisfied and healthy – and you’ll still be able to respect yourself the morning after.